Austin Powers

Once the music portion of the SXSW festival, er, “conference,” takes over Austin, a decidedly wild west atmosphere grabs hold of the city, as live music and spectators (many of whom appear to have gotten lost on their way to Bourbon Street) pour out of every bar, hotel, restaurant and public space. Below are a few artists who emerged as Next Big Thing contenders.

Mac Miller: The season is ripe for another upbeat rapper to create the next high school anthem, and Mac Miller’s “Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza” might be the one. Miller recently departed the rap group The Ill Spoken, and the move seems to be paying off. Kicking off his new solo career with a SXSW debut, Miller opened for fellow Pittsburgh native Wiz Khalifa. With an effortless laidback style, he plays off his youth, even nodding to Larry Clark’s Kids through samples, cover art and the name of his first official mixtape. What makes one mixtape more “official” than any other remains hazy, but expect his organically grown success to exceed its current modest status once one of the majors nabs him.

Superhumanoids: SXSW is a great place to check out bands that have been getting love on Pitchfork and Hype Machine all winter, but it’s also a time when fans might find the next big thing randomly tucked away in a 6^th Street tavern. For example, L.A. natives Superhumanoids impressed all who saw their official showcase – well-timed to support the release of their debut record – in the Victorian ballroom of the historic Driskill Hotel. Grown out of a bedroom project, the quartet demonstrated that they’re ready for the big leagues, with their dreamy, yet assertive sound that relies upon male and female vocal interplay in a sort of Beach House-meets-Arcade Fire fashion…at least for those who know who the f@#& Arcade Fire is.

James Blake: For those deeply immersed in the blogosphere, James Blake may not be a new name. But since SXSW can be a make-or-break moment for emerging acts, this London vocalist/producer/phenom, and his post-dub roots, spent the week being scrutinized closely under the Texas sun. While his self-titled debut album and previous BBC Radio 1 performance had won over even the most skeptical non-believers, many people still wondered if his live show would deliver. Once the heavy bass hit the crowd in the chest, however, any doubts vanished instantly. Blake took command of some of the most judgmental music fans and rightly justified all the hype.